Ciabatta

The Italian word ciabatta literally translates to “slippers,” and one look at the stubby, flattened shape of these bread loaves will tell you why they carry that name. Breads that are made from a very sticky dough, such as this one, are often categorized as rustic due to their rugged appearance. Because the consistency of what you are working with is closer to a paste than a dough (similar to that of a firm pâte à choux), the shape is a result of the baker’s decreased control over fo